2 min read • January 15, 2022
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Anthony Slater of The Athletic reported on Thursday that Warriors' 2020 No. 2 overall pick and future franchise cornerstone James Wiseman underwent a 2nd surgery in mid-December on his right knee.
The surgery was reportedly a cleanup procedure, and was kept safely under wraps by the organization. Wiseman tore his meniscus in early April 2021, and underwent a surgery to repair the tear on April 15, almost exactly 9 months ago.
Based on the timeline of events and the apparent need for a second procedure, our team of ProBasketballDocs is concerned not only about Wiseman's current recovery and availability this season, but for the 20-year-old's long-term knee health and productivity.
While the 7-footer's future prognosis is still in flux, he is months away from returning, very possibly ending his 2021-22 season before it begins.
A second arthroscopic surgery within 9 months of a serious injury is ominous for a young player, as it implies likely articular cartilage damage, articular being the cartilage that protects the edges of bones to form joints.
This kind of cartilage damage can lead to osteoarthritis, which is what led to the eventual derailing of the short careers of Greg Oden, Brandon Roy, and Andrew Bynum, among others.
While the potential end result of these issues are bleak, this process is not inevitable. This is a disappointing beginning to Wiseman's career, but the key now is to take his return slow and manage the arthritis he will likely suffer from as his career progresses.
Interviews from Steve Kerr, Stephen Curry, and other key voices in Golden State have been optimistic over recent weeks, but Wiseman has yet to be cleared for full contact or 3-on-3 work.
Wiseman was drafted 2nd overall from Memphis after skipping all but 3 games in his freshman season.
In 39 games in 2020-21, the lanky lefty averaged 11.5 points with 5.8 rebounds in 21.4 minutes per game before tearing his meniscus.
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